December 6, 2016
Superabsorbent hydrophilic polymers are everywhere—often, in places we’d never suspect. Researchers continue to discover new uses for these handy materials: in concrete, in stainless steel coatings, medical devices, and many other industrial applications. Truly, they are one of the most fascinating areas of chemical research today.
We have collected below a sampling of news articles about recent developments in the field of SAPs in the hopes that these will inspire conversations with your students about the practical uses of hydrophilic substances. If you come across an article of interest, please share it with us in the Comments section below.
Happy reading!
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Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Chemistry, Educational Innovations, green science, homeschool, hydrophilic, instant snow, parent friendly, polymer, polymer crystals, science, snow polymer, sodium polyacrylate, variables | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
December 6, 2016
Your students may already be aware of some ways that hydrophilic polymers are used in our daily lives. For instance, Sodium Polyacrylate is an essential component of disposable diapers, and Growing Spheres are often used by florists as a soil-free way to store water and keep cut flowers fresh for a long time.
But what else can hydrophilic polymers do? The answer is, plenty!
Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Chemistry, DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, green science, hands-on activity, homeschool, hydrophilic, instant snow, parent friendly, polymer, polymer crystals, snow polymer, sodium polyacrylate, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
December 6, 2016
It’s not that easy to find jokes about superabsorbent hydrophilic polymers… unless you have a dry sense of humor. (Get it?) Why not insert a bit of humor into your next quiz or homework page? Extra points for students who guess the right answers to our riddles!
If you have a favorite cartoon or joke, we invite you to share it as a comment below.
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Educational Innovations, green science, homeschool, instant snow, parent friendly, polymer, polymer crystals, science, snow polymer, sodium polyacrylate | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
December 6, 2016
What do artificial snow and baby diapers have in common? Some folks may scratch their heads, but if you’re a science teacher you probably already know the answer(s): they both contain sodium polyacrylate, and they both fall into the fascinating category of SAPs—superabsorbent polymers. These polymers simply LOVE water!
This edition of our newsletter is all about hydrophilic, or water loving, materials. We’re proud to share these comments from science loving teachers!
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Chemistry, DIY, Educational Innovations, fun experiments, hands-on activity, hydrophilic, parent friendly, polymer, polymer crystals, science, snow polymer, sodium polyacrylate, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
November 25, 2016
by Nancy Foote
It’s always fun to put a new item on the curiosity table to see how my students will react. The newest addition was Arctic Flare UV Sensitive Putty, a gift from our friends at Educational Innovations.
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
